Hong Kong women tipped to beat men to Fifa World Cup qualification by city football star
Leung Kwun-chung reveals truth behind controversial Asian Cup fall-out, defends brother for missing Hong Kong call amid passport issue
Hong Kong footballer Leung Kwun-chung said the women’s game was poised to overtake the men’s for popularity in the city.
Leung, who combines playing for Eastern with managing women’s first division club Citizen, also said the city’s women would beat their male counterparts to Fifa World Cup qualification.
A professional in Hong Kong for the past 15 years, the 32-year-old said it was “hard to see a future” for the men’s game, following a decline in standards and interest.
The local football association has targeted the 2034 World Cup for its flagship men’s team, something Leung believed was not possible because “there are so many problems”.
Asked to take over at Citizen in 2022, Leung identified a “chance to build something”.
“Women’s football in Hong Kong was at zero, but it’s beginning to grow up,” he said. “My main aim [as a coach] is to help players get professional contracts overseas, we’ve had players go to [mainland] China and Spain. Here, the players train six days a week, but don’t earn one dollar.
